Seven more die in Assam floods, 12 lakh affected

An affected village at Dhakuakhana, on Saturday. The number of affected population came down to about 12 lakh in 24 districts.A few rivers, including the Brahmaputra, were still flowing over the danger level at different places.Meanwhile, asserting that the state had enough funds to provide relief to all affected people, state Finance Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma said here today, "There is absolutely no dearth of funds".

Assam Finance and Education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the state government has made a decision to provide textbooks to the flood affected students within the month of August, those lost their textbooks in the flood.

The Assam minister said that, more than 2.5 million people of 3951 villages under 114 revenue circles of 29 districts are affected in the current flood and claimed 52 lives till July 15. Over 50 per cent of the Kaziranga National Park is still under water, affecting 93 anti-poaching camps, it said. Providing clean drinking water and fodder for cattle and domestic animals have also been ordered to the district authorities, he added.

In flood-hit Assam, as the situation is gradually improving, the Assam government has stepped up medical relief measures.

Across the state, 10,99,141 animals and poultry have been affected by the flood waters, the agency said. "We had provided relief money to the district deputy commissioners before the floods this year and we can provide money as sought by them". We have asked the respective departments to provide the project reports by August 15 so that work can start by September/October,  he said.

The Assam minister further said that, the district administration had distributed 40,640 quintal rice, 7,530 quintal dal, 2,462 quintal salt, 16,298 liters mustard oil, 28,674 numbers tarpaulin among the flood-affected people and set up 711 relief distribution centres. About 122,000 people were rendered homeless and are living in relief shelters.